Sunshade



,1950 A. D. BALSAM 2,517,827

SUNSHADE Filed Oct. 9, 1948 INVENTOR.

,4 L FEED D/xo/v BALSA M BY Wm ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 8, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUNSHADE Alfred DixonBalsai n, San Francisco, Calif. Application October 9, 1948, Serial No. 53,651 (01. 135-) I I 2 Claims. 1

This invention pertains to a sunshade.

The objective of this invention is to provide a simple foldable and inexpensive sunshade for sunbathers on beaches or the like, which sunshade provides sufficient protection to the face of a person taking a sun bath.

vAnother object of this invention is to provide a sunshade which can be easily collapsed and folded into a comparatively small package.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the general arrangements and combinations of the several devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction thereof without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the following specification, and as defined in the following claims; hence I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the said device and parts as described in the said specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the following detailed description, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for the illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the sunshade.

Fig. 2 is a side view of same.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental perspective view showing connections and a position of various parts when the sunshade is in erected position, viewing Fig. 1 in the direction of arrow 3.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view similar to the view shown in Fig. 3 but showing the sunshade in a collapsed position.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the sunshade in a collapsed position.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the sunshade in erected position.

In detail my sunshade consists of a frame made of a heavy wire upon which a piece of fabric in form of an ellipse is stretched. The frame is supported above ground by a pair of heavy wire stakes. The frame consists of, a main bow I which is bent to form substantially a half of an ellipse at each end 2 of which is provided an eye 3 by bending said wire upon itself. The ends 2 are extended a certain distance as at 4 in parallel relation to each other and terminate with an open loop 6 bent in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of said extension 4.

The main how I carries a second bow 8 hingedly connected thereto, the central portion of which is of the same shape as that of said main bow.

Each of the ends 9 of the second bow 8 is formed with a closed terminal loop I I which engages the eye 3 so as to permit the second bow 8 to be swung to or from the main bow I.

A piece of suitable fabric I5 of generally elliptic form is attached to said bows I and 8 by turning the rim of said fabric over said bows and stitching the rim to said fabric to form a seam I6.

The fabric I5 preferably does not extend to the eyes 3, but terminates a small distance away therefrom for the purpose of permitting various parts of mechanism freely to swing about said eyes. The seam I6 is omitted over the middles of the bows I and 8 for a very short distance so as to expose small bare portions I! and I8 of the bows I and 8 at said'places.

A brace I9 is provided transversely over the middle of said fabric for the purpose of holding the latter stretched and taut between said bows. The brace I9 has each of its ends bent at right angle to form a concave lug 2I. Each lug 2| is placed against the bare center of the respective bow, the lateral displacement of said lugs in relation to said bows being prevented by said seams IS.

The brace I9 has a central eye 22 made by bending said brace upon itself. A ribbon 23, or the like, attached to substantially the middle of the fabric I5, is tied to the eye 22 for the purpose of pivoting the brace I9 upon the fabric I5.

The frame is supported by a pair of stakes 26, each of which has a closed terminal loop 21 by which the same is hingedly attached to the eye 3. When the sunshade is in erected position the body of the stake 2G is frictionally engaged by the open loop 6 and is securely retained therein. The stakes 26 are forced into the ground in a desired position so that the shade is directed onto a proper place.

In order to fold the sunshade, the brace I9 is disconnected from the bows I and 8 and turned parallel to the long axis of the fabric ellipse. Thereupon the stakes 26 are pushed out of the engagement with the open loops 6 and swung onto the fabric I5, and the bow 8 is swung toward the main bow I as shown in Fig. 5. When the sunshade is in this collapsed position, the stakes 26 and the brace I9 rest in the fold of the fabric I 5. If desired some means, such as a strap with a snap, may be provided about the center of the bows for the purpose of securing them together when folded, and for preventing said stakes from falling out of the fold.

I claim:

1. A sunshade comprising a wire frame consisting of a main bow, an eye formed on the main bow near each end thereof, an open loop on each end of said bow, a second bow hingedly connected to said eye, a piece of fabric secured to said bows, means for holding said fabric taut between said bows, and a pair of stakes, each hingedly connected to said eye, each of said open loops being adapted to engage the body of the stake so as to firmly hold the same.

2. A sunshade comprising a wire frame consisting of a main bow, an eye formed on the main bow near each end thereof, an open loop on each end of said bow, a second bow hingedly connected to said eye, a piece of fabric secured to said bows, said second bow being adapted to be swung toward the main bow whereupon said fabric forms a fold, a detachable brace abutting said bows and connected to the fabric, which brace is adapted 15 Number to keep the fabric taut between the bows, and to rest in the fold of the fabric when disconnected from said bows, and a pair of stakes hingedly connected to the eye and firmly engaged by said open loops, said stakes being adapted to be disengaged from said open loops and to be swung into the fold of said fabric.

ALFRED DIXON BALSAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Jolly Jan. 3, 1939 Sankey July 25, 1939 Dabney Dec. 23, 1941 

